St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-24
The painters are all busy. and the prospects
for rushing season are quite f1attering.
PROF. GOi.DWIN SMITH.

His Views Reg n riding a Commercial
Union Between Canada and Ihc
United states.
NEW YORK, April 29.-The attitude Of
Great Britain in regard to the question of 6
possible union between the United States
and Canada as foreShadowed in the Butler
worth bill introduced in the last session of
congress would have very great influence
| in the matter In order to elicit the view
| of one SO well informed on the subject as
Profsf Goodwin Smith is. letter was ad-
dressed to him by ErastuS Wiman, presi
dent Of the Canadian club. asking his opin
ion as to the possible consent of Great
Britain. should the Canadian parliament
favor measure of similar import, the re-
suit Of which would be commercial union
between the two countries. The views OF
the Oxford professor as given in reply to
this letter are as follows:
My Dear Wiman: The question is natur-
ally asked, as you say, whether the consent OF
Great Britain could be obtained to a measure
OF complete reciprocity winch would involve
an assimilation of tariffs between Canada and
the United States. Certainly the Canadians,
| as loyal colonists who have every reason to
feel grateful and attached to their mother
country, would not act in defiance of heI
wishes. For my own part being British to
the core. would never vote for anything
which though. in the least degree at vari
ance with the interest Or honor of Great
Britain. But Canada has already been taken
formally, as well as practically, out of the
commercial unity of the empire by Sir John
Macdonald, who has declared that he is for
fiscal home rule to the hilt. Fiscal independ-
ence was formally conceded to the colonies
some time ago, when the imperial govern
ment determined not to interfere with the
nd nv At,ct I;.,, ,f
tive tariff. Canada already levies duties.
aVowedly protective, on British goods, and
ner adoption Of the American scale would
| make no great difference, as it appears to
me, either practically or in point of princi-
pie. 1t is not u matter, image, about which
the commercial classes of England, who took
the change in the Canadian tariff cool
enough, would feel very strongly or cal
loudly on their government to interfere
| That the one great interest of England CD
this side of the Atlantic is the friendship,
| of the English speaking communities Of the
continent has long been my firm belief, anQ
though l, Of course speak with no authority,
L feel a sanguine expectation that this argu-
nent, pressed by those whose attachment to
Great Britain cannot be questioned, will pre-
vail with British statesmen and that the con-
sent OF the imperial governmental free trade
/ between Canada and the United States will
| be obtained. PEhe voice of Canada in the
| councils of her own continent is really the
| best support which she can ever lend to
| England, either in commercial questions Oh
| questions of any other kind. Nations. it is
| true, have tempers as well as interests, and
| if American legislatures and journals persist
| in trying the temper of the British nation, as
| they are doing ut present. mischief. not onl,
| to the prospects of closer commercial rela-
lions, but to friendly relations generally, may
ensue. But it is difficult to see why Anglo
Saxons should be bent on sacrificing their
natural affinties, their material interests and
those of our common civilization, to the prose
cution of Celtic feud, or why American
legislators and Journalists should deem il
their duty to protest against the repression OF
disorder in Ireland by the British govern
| lnent, when they regard stronger measures
| taken by other European governments for the
same purpose, such as Germany is now TAX
| ing in Alsace-Lorraine, with perfect uncon
Germ. Yours very truly, GOODWIN SMITH.